Development of the molecular imaging and the therapy of the unstable plaque targeting activated macrophages

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The folic acid receptor beta (FR-beta) attracts attention as a marker of activated macrophages. We found that the activated macrophage which expressed FR-beta was present in the arteriosclerosis lesion of the arteriosclerosis model mouse. We administrated the recombinant immunotoxin which coupled Pseudomonas aeruginosa toxin to anti-FR-beta monoclonal antibody into the arteriosclerosis model mice, selectively killed the activated macrophages, and demonstrated that it reduced arteriosclerotic lesion.In addition, we established a sandwich ELISA assay using anti-FR-beta monoclonal antibody and measured the soluble FR-beta concentration of human serum. The patients with aortic aneurysms showed a higher serum FR-beta level compared with the normal control. The measurement of the soluble FR-beta concentration is suggested to be useful for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis.